This is the first-ever call-up for Rodrigo and Juan. Both had played extensively with the U-21 team, and Rodrigo is in fact the team’s all-time top goalscorer (24 goals). VDB said he called them up because both are playing well, and they should be called up to play for the national team for many years to come. Rodrigo said it’s one of the happiest days of his life, and he heard the news from Paco while he was showering, as he wasn’t aware that the list was coming out at that time.

Iniesta and Piqué have made a return to the team, while Mikel San José, Marc Bartra, Isco and Munir have dropped off the list in comparison with the last call-up. However, Isco and Munir are on the U-21 team list (FYI, Dani Carvajal, Juan Bernat, Koke and Paco Alcácer are all still eligible to play for the U-21 team).

The concentración begins on Oct. 6 at 13h. The team will train at the Ciudad de Fútbol that afternoon and again on Tuesday afternoon before traveling to Slovakia on Wednesday and holding one training session there. The game will be played on Thursday at the Štadión pod Dubňom. On Friday, the team will travel to Luxembourg and train. On Saturday, there will be a training session at the Stade Josy Barthel, and on Sunday, the game will be played there.

* Due to a calf injury, Sergio Ramos was replaced by Marc Bartra.

As for the U-21 team, it will be playing Serbia twice on Oct. 10 and Oct. 14. The games are the playoffs for the 2015 U-21 Euro qualification. The first leg will be played in Jagodina on Oct. 10 at 17h, and the second leg will be played on Oct. 14 at 18h in Cádiz.